98-Year-Old Kansas Newspaper Co-Owner Dies After Police Raid

In a tragic turn of events, Joan Meyer, a 98-year-old co-owner of a small Kansas newspaper, passed away at her home on Saturday. The unfortunate incident occurred just a day after the police carried out a raid at her residence and the office of the Marion County Record, the newspaper she co-owned. According to the newspaper, Meyer had been overwhelmed and stressed beyond her limits due to the shock and grief caused by the raids. The Record strongly condemned the actions of the police, labeling the raids as illegal.

Defending the raid, Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody stated that once all the necessary information is available, it will vindicate the judicial system that has been called into question. However, the police have refrained from providing any updates since the announcement of Meyer’s death.

During the raid at Meyer’s residence, the police seized her computer and a router connected to an Alexa smart speaker. At the Record’s office, they confiscated personal cellphones, computers, the newspaper’s file server, and other equipment. It was also alleged that Chief Cody forcibly grabbed reporter Deb Gruver’s cellphone, causing injury to her finger. Eric Meyer, the publisher of the newspaper, expressed their determination to publish the following week amidst the ongoing legal situation. Additionally, they vowed to seek the maximum sanctions available under the law to prevent any other news organization from being subjected to similar “Gestapo tactics.”

The federal Privacy Protection Act typically protects journalists and newsrooms from searches conducted by law enforcement, requiring police to use subpoenas rather than search warrants. Chief Cody confirmed that, in most cases, police are indeed required to use subpoenas when searching the premises of journalists, unless the journalists themselves are suspects in the offense being investigated. However, the raid conducted on Friday was executed based on a search warrant. The Kansas Reflector posted the search warrant online, revealing that the police were investigating allegations of identity theft and unlawful acts concerning computers. The warrant also indicated that the police were searching for documents and records linked to local restaurateur Kari Newell.

According to the Record, Newell had accused the newspaper of acquiring drunk driving information about her illegally and providing it to Marion Councilwoman Ruth Herbel. However, the newspaper clarified that they did not actively seek out this information. Instead, it was sent to them by a source via social media, who also shared it with Herbel. To verify the information, the Record utilized public records, but they had no intention of publishing it. They believed that the information had been leaked to them on purpose as part of an ongoing legal dispute between Newell and her estranged husband.

Chief Cody emphasized that their priority is to ensure justice is served based on the victim’s request. The Marion Police Department will spare no effort in accomplishing this. Assisting in the investigation were the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, who stated that they were looking into allegations of illegal access and dissemination of confidential criminal justice information. The bureau expressed their belief in the principles of freedom of the press as well as the equal application of the law, emphasizing that no one is above it, whether they are public officials or representatives of the media.

The police have faced scrutiny and condemnation over the raid, with advocates for free speech expressing concerns about its implications. Seth Stern, the advocacy director of the Freedom of the Press Foundation, stated that this incident appeared to be an example of American law enforcement treating the press in a manner reminiscent of authoritarian regimes. Stern highlighted that the anti-press rhetoric prevalent in the country is not merely talk but is creating a hazardous environment for journalists carrying out their duties.

PEN America, an organization dedicated to defending free expression, called for accountability and protection of the Record’s rights. They argued that the police’s raid, coupled with the confiscation of the newspaper’s equipment, most likely violated federal law and jeopardized the paper’s ability to publish news.

As the investigation unfolds and the aftermath of the raid continues to reverberate, it is crucial to ensure a thorough examination of the events surrounding these troubling incidents. The integrity of the press and the protection of individual rights must be upheld with the utmost vigilance.